Another Record Store Day release uncovered by Elemental Music's Jazz Detective Zev Feldman and, I'm sorry to say that this one doesn't quite work for me although there are moments.
Baker and Sheldon may have been big buddies off stage but in the studio the combination of their contrasting styles whether singing or playing doesn't always gel. Sheldon's vocals are, to be polite, too extrovert as opposed to Baker's which are, as ever, the epitome of cool. The same applies to their respective trumpet playing.
In fairness to Sheldon, I've heard him on some excellent west coast albums including Art Pepper's Smack Up where his more restrained approach actually enhances the proceedings and he doesn't sing.
Sheldon, with his fellow trumpet player's best interests at heart, helped to arrange the recording date after Baker had been in a fight some years earlier during the course of which he got his teeth kicked in and needed a denture - never good news for a trumpet player. Because of this misfortune Baker was reluctant to do any recording until, six years later when this 1972 session was set up in the United Audio studio in Tustin, CA, a studio run by guitarist Jack Marshall who put together a first-class line-up of musicians including himself.
Marshall had several labels interested but before any deals were made he died and the tapes ended up being stored in the family garage for 50 years before they finally saw the light of day thanks to his son Frank and the intrepid Feldman.
Chet Baker & Jack Sheldon - In Perfect Harmony: The Lost Album is set to be released on Record Store Day (April 20) on a limited edition 180-gram audiofile LP and six days later on CD. It is a must for Chet Baker completists, maybe less so for others. Lance
This Can't be Love; Just Friends; You Fascinate me; When I Fall in Love; I Cried For You; I'm Old Fashioned; Evil Blues
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